Two Sides of the Same Coin but Two Very
Different Approaches
It was interesting that, in the same week, I came
across two articles addressing the issue of the low
numbers of people with disabilities gaining paid work.
The first was an article about the comments made by Philip Davies, MP
for Shipley where he suggests that people with disabilities should be
allowed (if they choose to do so) to work for less than the national
minimum wage for a period to prove their value as an employee. He
argues that if an employer were presented with two candidates, one
with disabilities and the other without, the employer is most likely to
choose the non disabled employee.
I disagree with his views on a whole number of levels but my biggest
concern is for people with learning difficulties and individuals on the
autistic spectrum. We know that many people benefit from having
additional support during recruitment and/or the initial phase where
they are learning a job. This support has often been provided by job
coaches or other supported employment personnel.
In these frighteningly austere times, we are
hearing of supported employment services
budgets being cut or even services closures,
greatly reducing the labour pool who can offer
people this practical and often crucial support.
In the absence of this kind of assistance, how
long will it take a person with a learning
difficulty to learn to do a job to the employer’s standard? Indeed, for
some this period of employment for less than the minimum wage could
actually have the opposite effect and might enable employers to screen
the person out of the job. It is essential that those in authority look to
meaningful investment in good quality supported employment services
as for many; this is the key to success. Interestingly one of the most
significant periods of investment in supported employment services was
during the Thatcher era so it is not out with the capacity of the
Conservative party to invest if they want to encourage people to take up
employment.
The second article was written by New York
based disabled businessman and former Wall
Street trader, Rich Donovan. He argues that
quotas and laws simply don’t work as any
business that knows its stuff can usually find
hot shot lawyers to find loop holes in the
legislation. His mantra is that disabled people are customers first with a
formidable spending power. There are 1.1 billion people with disabilities
globally with spending power of around $4 trillion (a market which is
approximately the size of China).
He argues that many multi-national companies think of disability in the
sense of charity (a box to tick), ignoring the combined spending power
and business value of this group of their market.
On reviewing both articles, I know whose opinion impressed most and
whose approach makes sense in terms of how we value people and their
potential contribution. It is equally important to stress that Rich’s
approach makes sound business sense and we know that this is where
arguments and debates with big business can be won.
There are estimated to be around 120,000 people with learning
difficulties and 50,000 individuals on the autistic spectrum living in
Scotland. If you then consider that they
have family, friends and other supporters,
you can immediately start to see the ripple
effect of a proactive approach to their
recruitment.
Doing
so
not
only
says
something about the company and their
positive approach to diversity, it also helps
the employer to better understand the
needs of their customers. If you have a diverse group of staff and can
successfully accommodate their needs as employees, you will, as a
consequence have a much better understanding of the range of needs
of all of your customers and will be better equipped to meet those
needs.
I urge you to consider both perspectives and decide which makes sense
to you. If you agree with Rich’s perspective there are things you can do
to promote this agenda. We can all play a role in encouraging
businesses large and small to consider recruiting people with disabilities.
Some of the statistics Rich quotes will certainly provide you with some
useful points to raise with businesses to help them to think about the
bigger picture. We can also all play a role in lobbying at a UK, Scottish
and local level to ensure that good existing supported employment
services are protected and that there is investment in more services to
provide the practical support that many people will need to take their
rightful place in the workplace.
To view either article, please use the links below:http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/jun/17/tory-philip-daviesdisabled-people-work (Philip Davies article)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ouch/opinion/disability-employment.shtml
Donovan article)
©Norma Curran, Values Into Action Scotland, 2011
(Rich